World Relief Seattle helps displaced people start a new life in the Pacific Northwest. These are some of their stories, and the stories of volunteers who have made a difference.

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Maxine loves her job. Each year she prepares dozens of refugees for their American Citizenship test. Maxine’s students are full of expectancy and hope, mixed with real anxiety. After fleeing persecution in their countries, many refugees are eager to become American Citizens.

Larissa was a special student.  A Russian grandmother, she spoke little English. Failing the citizenship test was not an option.  To pass, Larissa had to learn about American history and government. And she had to be able to write down a sentence dictated by the Immigration officer, in English.  As the test date approached her anxiety grew.

“Oh! Ne mozhet byt’,” she wailed wringing her hands. ”It’s impossible!”

On the eve of her test Maxine took Larissa aside and made her practice writing a set of sentences from former citizenship tests. The next day, Maxine drove Larissa to the Immigration Center. Maxine waited outside. A few hours later, Larissa emerged from the building the picture of happiness.

“Thank God! Thank God!”

she kept repeating. She had been asked to write down the exact sentence that she had been her practicing all night.

Larissa is an American Citizen. For her the impossible had become possible.

World Relief, along with our team of volunteers and donors, helped over 600 refugees begin new lives last year in the Puget Sound.